Your water lines, wastewater pipes, and sewer line have finite lifespans. Although some pipe materials can last up to 100 years, things like hard water, frequent clogs, and soil shifting can cause them to fail long before their time. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we’re sharing several ways to know when your plumbing needs repiping.
Changes in the Taste, Appearance and Smell of Your Tap Water
When water supply lines leak, they let fresh, potable water out. They also let outside contaminants in. If your water supply lines are failing, your tap water could be cloudy, discolored, foul-smelling, or foul-tasting.
These are changes that you should report to your plumber right away. Although changes in water quality may be the result of backflow issues or problems with your water company’s supply pipes, there’s a good chance that age-related changes in your water lines are the culprit.
Low or Fluctuating Water Pressure
In aging pipes, decreased water pressure is a common sign of built-up sediment, silt, and sand. As the interior diameters of your water supply lines decrease, you’ll eventually get thin, guttering streams, even when your taps are turned on full-blast.
Decreased water pressure can also be the result of pipe leaks. Leaky water supply lines won’t always create visible pools of standing water on your floors. You might have leaky water supply pipes behind your drywall, in low-lying areas like crawlspaces, or underground.
Frequent Clogs
The same buildups of silt, sediment, and sand that form in aging water supply pipes can also be found in aging wastewater pipes. Older wastewater pipes are often rife with thick, viscous biofilm and lined with tough, odorous waste, including grease, soap scum, and hair.
With less room to move through, exiting waste can get snagged on trapped debris and rough pipe interiors. Although you can minimize wear-related blockages by having your drains and wastewater pipes thoroughly cleaned, aging pipes become increasingly less resilient over time. Thus, they might not hold up well to the high pressure used in hydro-jetting or the abrasive force of rooter service.
The Age of Your Pipes
The age of your plumbing is the biggest indicator of when you should repipe your home. Galvanized steel pipes have the shortest lifespan of common plumbing materials, but they can still be expected to last between 20 and 50 years. Copper pipes usually last for over 50 years, while brass pipes can keep working properly for over 70 years. Cast iron pipes are probably the most durable metal pipes available and can last for 75 to 100 years. Finally, plastic plumbing such as PVC and PEX can last indefinitely as long as they are properly maintained. This is why most modern homes rely on plastic as opposed to metal pipes.
Frequent Plumbing Problems
Regardless of the age of your pipes, you should be on the lookout for frequent plumbing problems. Issues such as clogged drains and the occasional leak happen in just about every home once in a while, but frequent problems could be a sign that you need new pipes. Look for issues such as low water pressure, sudden changes in water temperature, and anything that could indicate a leak such as puddles near exposed pipes or signs of water damage in your walls.
You should also take a look at the water that comes out of your faucets. Not only is rusty or discolored water unappealing, but it can represent a serious health hazard. If it’s just your home that has discolored water, that discoloration is likely due to corrosion in your pipes, which should be replaced as soon as possible.
Recurring Leaks
Many pipe materials grow thin and weak as they age. Aging pipes are prone to developing pinhole leaks and tiny cracks. While there are multiple ways to repair leaky pipes, the only way to repair pipes with advanced, age-related wear is to replace them.
Visible Corrosion
Take a look at the exposed pipes in your home. If they’re visibly corroded, it’s time to replace them. When present on or in water supply lines, corrosion can give your tap water a distinctive rust-colored hue.
Untreated Hard Water
If you recently purchased existing construction with untreated hard water, there’s a good chance that your pipes won’t last through their expected lifespans. Hard water has high concentrations of magnesium, calcium, and other dissolved minerals. In homes with extremely hard water, the same mineral deposits that form on plumbing fixtures can also be found in pipe interiors. These buildups are heavy, coarse, and capable of accelerating pipe aging.
Soggy, Sunken Terrain
It may be time to replace your sewer line if your landscape is perpetually muddy. Soggy, sunken terrain and sudden increases in lawn growth are indicative of sewer line leaks. As sewer pipes spill their nutrient-rich contents into the surrounding soils, you might notice your lawn and other landscaping vegetation looking especially verdant. In addition to general age-related wear, sewer pipes can crack, rupture, or collapse due to soil shifting and soil erosion, soil compaction, and tree root encroachment.
Slow-Moving Drains
In wastewater pipes, heavy buildups of sediment and trapped debris impede the movement of effluence. Although it’s perfectly normal to have a single slow-moving drain, if all drains throughout your home are dirty and under-performing at once, it may be time to have your home repiped. Multi-drain issues can also indicate blockages or other problems along your sewer line.
Malfunctioning Appliances
Whether due to aging pipes or sewer line obstructions, your plumbing-connected appliances can experience serious, drain-related issues. If your dishwasher and washing machine are having a hard time initiating or completing wash and rinse cycles, aging pipes could lie at the heart of the problem.
Advanced Age
Ductile iron and cast iron pipes can last a century or more. Copper and galvanized steel pipes typically last 50 years. High-density polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes can last five to seven decades. However, some PVC pipes are expected to last just 25 years. In addition to pipe materials, factors like soil conditions, the quality of installation, and internal and external stress can affect your pipes’ lifespans.
Camera Inspections
One of the best ways to assess the age and condition of sewer lines, drains, and water supply lines is by scheduling a camera inspection. These non-invasive assessments can identify multiple wear-related issues. They also help plumbers assess the remaining lifespans of these important components and determine the best repair or replacement techniques.
You don’t have to wait for your pipes to fail before scheduling repiping service. To determine the remaining lifespans of your pipes and avert disaster, get in touch with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing now!